TAMPA (AP)  Friends of affable, low-key Kwane Doster, the Vanderbilt football player, remembered him Monday as a quiet young man, unlikely ever to be a victim of violent death.

Kwane Doster was a junior majoring in human and organizational development.

Vanderbilt University

The running back was fatally shot early Sunday as he and two friends sat in a car in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant in Ybor City, Tampa's historic nightclub area. His companions were uninjured.

No motive for the shooting has been established, Tampa Police Lt. William Ferguson said. Police said they do not know if Doster was the intended target.

"He's the last person on the team who we thought would die this way," said assistant Vanderbilt coach Kenny Carter, 37, who came to Tampa from Nashville school to help the family.

He described Doster, 21, as a popular player, "a good kid; that's why all our players were so drawn to him."

Ruben Doster, 44, said his nephew was "a likable guy, not a talkative person. He was quiet. Go to a party, you'd never know he was there."

No arrests have been made, police said Monday. They found the orange Infiniti that they believe stopped next to the vehicle in which Doster was a passenger, and said they know who the owner is. Someone inside the Infiniti fired a hail of bullets, hitting Doster once.

"We are talking to a number of people," said police spokesman Joe Durkin. "Detectives are conducting a meticulous set of interviews in an attempt to put together all the pieces of evidence needed not only for an arrest, but a conviction."

Doster, a junior majoring in human and organizational development at the academically respected university, had hopes of a career in sports management and was looking forward to graduation in 2006, said his mother, Kelly Doster, 44, who is in the entertainment business.

"He was the most beautiful son a mother might want to have," she said Monday, standing in the yard of their modest, sun-splashed home set in a quiet, middle-class neighborhood. "He made life so easy. He was just a born leader."

She said his loss has been "unbearable," but added: "I know I have to be strong for my daughter and my son (Kwane's siblings), and grandson."

"With God I will find the strength; with His love and His hand on me, I'll make it because he won't put nothing on me I can't bear. Kwane in spirit will still be touching a lot of people."

She said Kwane spent Christmas Day at home with family. They ate a typical southern-style dinner, featuring dressing, turkey, oxtails, collard greens, rice and his favorite dish — macaroni and cheese — plus pie and cake for dessert.

About midnight or 12:30 a.m., he said he was going out with friends. Two hours later, she was awakened by a phone call from the hospital where he was brought, mortally wounded.

Memorial services were set for Thursday evening at St. Mark Baptist Church; funeral services will be Friday at 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Port Tampa. Burial will be at Rest Haven Memorial Park.

Doster was a former standout athlete at Robinson High School, where he played both football and baseball. He became the first Vanderbilt player ever recognized as the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year in 2002 after setting a team record of 798 rushing yards.

He ran for 427 yards and one touchdown this season for the Commodores (2-9). For his career, Doster had 1,621 yards rushing, 256 yards receiving and seven touchdowns.

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